I don't get why some people are suddenly complaining about the un-pc-ness of the skirt lifting. I've lost count of the number of latin dances I've seen where the woman spins round and the man quckly flicks up her skirt with his hands as she spins round - it's almost become a staple I've seen it so much.

I like all 3 of the new dancers.

Sign o' the times...

I remember that too. I think what Giovanni did was a bit different in that he choreographed it to be a bit sleazy. He made a whole "thing" of lifting her skirt and looking at her bum - and she had a choreographed reaction to that. The others just flicked the skirts. No acting like they were trying to get a glimpse underneath and no reaction that something else was going on.

I don't think it's a big deal. There have been a lot of other moves - like the walking over/straddling the prone male (while skirt wafting) that is also a staple move. It is usually choreographed to be a bit risque but doesn't get much comment.

Oti is my fav of the newbies, but the two guys seem OK. My only fear is that TPTB are going to try to make Giovanni the next Vincent because it's not going to work. Let him just be himself.

That's exactly it. He looked, while she wasn't spinning. Spinning and flicking it up doesn't give the man a chance to see anything. It stuck out like a sore thumb for me. It didn't help that they showed it in the recap either. I wasn't offended or anything, but it just didn't feel right in the dance.

I didn't like Vincent at all so I hope they don't want Giovanni to be like him. However, he already lost points from me from the t-shirt/team name thing.

I think the t-shirt had to have come from the producers. Most of the VT's are scripted nonsense they hire apparent morons to write (or instruct sensible people to write to appeal to morons.)

Years ago, the US version did daft VT's like that and Strictly showed training - then they swapped. WTH?

It's interesting how we all see things differently. ...I thought that team GG whole routine was so cute ( and full of content ) . I found the lifting of the skirt/kissing cute. ..just in the spirit of the dance but other people find it annoying/unecessary......go figure.
I thought that Giovanni was molded into Vincent 2.0 but he doesn't seem like him imo. Well maybe some personality traits : flirty, ....but he doesn't seem as too much of a show off , cracking too many jokes like Vincent used too.
Vincent was one of my favorites pros btw but I think that the similarities stop at the fact that they're both Italians and seem flirty in general. ...that's it.

You might be right about the producers.

Giovanni is already better than Vincent in my book, but that's not hard.

If we have to have team names for our pairs then I'm henceforth going to call them Georgianni.

(Wait until I tell you what else to call the couples like Trimelia, Ainslalie and Ibola!)

Ibola is a winner

It's all so confusing On one hand some say Jay is a virgin, because he was not all over Aliona like a rash let alone did not shag her right there on the dancefloor. And on the other hand Giovanni lifts Georgia's skirt for a split of a second and from the reactions you'd think he killed a man

yes, I agree with you, it's good to have new faces on Strictly but I do miss all the "old" pro dancers, I like Oti, Gleb and Giovanni and think Giovanni is gorgeous, loved his jive and had to watch it again to see what Georgia was doing

Giovanni is really handsome ( i'm not gay), and Georgia was good for someone who had never done the Jive.

yes, she did well, have watched this dance several times ... and not just because of Giovanni

Oti is bubbly and charming. I'm beginning to fear I might find her a little affected and tiring though, but we'll see. I am hoping she's a good trainer and choreographer.

Gleb already bores me a little. It may be that I am a bit contrary, but his rather static face and frightening teeth and the overkill about his looks (not his fault) may be affecting me. I'll see how he shapes as a dancer and trainer.

Giovanni is open, already I can see he's a bit nervy but charming. He seems to nurture G. a bit and he's sort of eager and a bit puppyish, but a classic dancing type of the sort I like. So far so good.

Oti is so pretty (I'm not straight). She and Gleb were yesterday on ITT, lots of nice things to look at. There's a pattern why they probably hired them, young and good looking, hopefully they are good teachers, too Although I think Giovanni and Gleb already proved themselves. Oti has it harder working around Anthony's injury, we'll see tomorrow.

Feel sorry for Oti.
Anthony is injured so why is he doing SCD?
If he stays in this week (that was a poor waltz) how is he going to manage the arm positions needed for a paso? One of the judges mentioned it was his week 3 dance
He couldn't even raise his elbow for the waltz hold

I want to like Giovanni, but wasn't that impressed with Georgia this week.

I'd have loved more straight dancing and technique. The whole thing never seemed to get properly off the ground.

Gleb still bores me and I am unsure about his choreo.

Oti is fighting to keep Anthony in so the jury's out.

I feel the same. How on earth can he manage a paso with a busted shoulder?

She looked so upset last night, almost tearful. I love Anthony but he has such a long way to go yet and that shoulder is just not helping

Giovanni sure sweats a lot. I've never, ever seen a dancer so "glowing"

I think both of the male pros did their partners no favours in terms of choreography this week. Not Strictly's best signings I'm afraid.

They can learn.

Let's see if they do.

It feels a little unfair singling Gleb out on Charleston choreography when all of the other pros are so crap at it they aren't even allowed to do it themselves without outside guidance. To be honest Gleb seems an excellent signing to me given the performances he's got out of Anita given her complete lack of dance background, particularly in the cha cha.

If they think they NEED it, I give the pros some kudos.

Thinking they don't and turning out something that confusing, doesn't inspire confidence.

The new pros are learning though, so I'll let them off.

Last week I thought it was justified, given the choreography, but this week it was just a waltz

Having watched it again I'm afraid what I got from the dance is that Gleb can do lifts, Gleb can do a cartwheel and the splits. Apparently some woman was dancing too. All very Derek Hough to me and definitely don't need that on SCD.

Artem did one 'updated' Charleston choreography, too, it got mixed reception, too. Actually during his last year he was 'improving' every single dance.